Larkin finds new coach close to home

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Matt Gehrig played for Dave Bierman during his high school career at Burlington Central, then served as an assistant coach for Bierman the past three years at Larkin High.

On Friday, Gehrig learned that he will assume the head coaching spot Bierman vacated last month when he decided to leave the Royals and cross town to take over Elgin High's football program.

Gehrig, 28, received the news from Larkin principal Rich Webb while driving to his family's vacation home near Eagle River, Wis. He's already looking forward to his first meeting with his former mentor when he leads the Royals against Bierman's Maroons on Oct. 18 in the annual Town Jug game.

"When you look back on it, things have kind of come full circle," Gehrig said. "That'll be a neat feeling [when Larkin plays Elgin] and something we'll both be looking forward to. It'll be a very interesting matchup and will be fun for both sides."

Gehrig handled head sophomore coaching duties at Larkin last year while also spending time as an offensive and defensive line coach for the varsity squad. He was a varsity assistant the two previous years after arriving at Larkin in Bierman's first year at the school in 2005.

A 1997 graduate of Central, Gehrig played offensive and defensive tackle for the Rockets squad that finished 7-3 and qualified for the postseason in 1997, which was Bierman's last of six years at the school.

Gehrig went on to start for three seasons from 1998-2000 on the offensive line at Eastern Illinois, earning All-Ohio Valley Conference honors in the process. He credits Bierman for helping him achieve his goal of playing college football.

Gehrig's ties to Larkin extend beyond his recent coaching tenure. His father, Robert, graduated from Larkin, and Gehrig also served as a student teacher at the school.

"I grew up in the area and spent the first nine years of my childhood basically in that neighborhood just a few blocks from Larkin, so it's a hometown area for me," Gehrig said.

Following his college career, Gehrig went on to work as the defensive line coach at College of DuPage in 2003 before assuming the same position with the Hannover Musketeers of the German Football League in 2004. He's spent the past three years as a driver's education instructor at both Larkin and Elgin.

Given Gehrig's strong football background, Larkin athletics director Jim Juliano said Gehrig was a strong choice among a crowded field of those who showed interest in the position.

"Matt's a dynamic young coach and he has such a passion for the game," Juliano said. "He's very well acquainted with the kids and the coaching staff, and he's well respected by the kids and the coaches, which is very important."

Gehrig has been leading Larkin's offseason workouts this summer. He inherits a Larkin squad that finished 4-5 last season despite averaging 35.6 points per game.

When asked if he will continue to run the high-octane offense Larkin was known for under Bierman, Gehrig said he'll have to wait and see.

"We'll build the schemes on both offense and defense around the strengths and talents of the athletes," Gehrig said. "We've got an idea about what kind of system we'd like to implement, but we won't know for sure until we get into double sessions.

"Two things I'll definitely be emphasizing will be being strong against the run on defense and being able to establish the run on offense."

The Royals lost a number of talented seniors from last year's squad, including quarterback and Courier News Player of the Year Cam Kinley. However, Gehrig expects his experience within the program to pay off as Larkin looks to new players to fill key roles this season.

"That familiarity is definitely a plus," Gehrig said. "Myself and a couple of the other guys on the staff have been there for a few years, and the kids have gotten to know us. I think that will definitely be a positive going into the season."